Downstate shuttle to Wilmington VAMC begins Monday

A free courtesy shuttle service for downstate military veterans with appointments at the Wilmington Veterans Affairs Medical Center begins Monday, VA says.

The shuttle will pick up vets at the community based outpatient clinics in Georgetown and Dover. Users must have a scheduled clinic appointment at Wilmington and must call their primary care team scheduler to make a reservation to ride the shuttle. The shuttles are "not available" for family members who want to visit veteran inpatients, but family members over age 16 can accompany scheduled veteran patients, according to Wilmington VA spokesman James Coty.

Service will offered each Monday through Thursday, excluding federal holidays. Fridays are excluded "due to concern for potential delays caused by heavy beach traffic which could create a lengthy bus ride, particularly for the patients departing at the Sussex County CBOC," Coty said, adding that the shuttle schedule "may be adjusted based on veteran needs."

The service was to begin in early May, to the chagrin of some downstate veterans. Coty said that while the service is funded - $70,000 for vehicle maintenance, fuel, and the operator's salary, provided by the VA Office of Rural Health - it was delayed while staff members completed safety, licensing and boarding requirements. Also, the driver job was offered to a current VA employee and, Coty said, "the vacated position needed to be filled prior to beginning shuttle service."

The driver is now licensed and certified, Coty said.

The shuttle will have room for 16 seated passengers and two in wheelchairs. It'll leave the Sussex County CBOC, 15 Georgetown Plaza, Georgetown, at 7:30 a.m. and stop en route at the Kent County CBOC, 1198 S. Governors Ave., Dover. The shuttle will leave the Wilmington VAMC at 2:30 p.m. to begin the return trip.

Heads-up: seat reservations are first-come, first-served.

Contact William H. McMichael at (302) 324-2812 or bmcmichael@delawareonline.com. On Twitter: @billmcmichael

Military/Southern New Castle County reporter:
Bill McMichael has twin beats: the military, and Southern New Castle County. He reports on Dover Air Force Base and the state Army and Air National Guard, as well as on issues faced by the state's veterans. He added the south county to his coverage responsibilities in November 2014, with an initial focus on residential and retail development in Middletown, Odessa and Townsend.